On Friday, May 31, the Queen’s Park Oval in Port of Spain, Trinidad witnessed a spectacular display of power hitting by former West Indies captain Nicholas Pooran. In a warm-up match leading up to the T20 World Cup 2024, Pooran showcased his incredible six-hitting skills against a depleted Australian bowling lineup.
Australia, having won the toss, chose to bowl first. Their attack was missing key players like Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins, forcing Tim David to open the bowling alongside Josh Hazlewood. West Indies opener Shai Hope started aggressively but fell to Ashton Agar, setting the stage for Pooran’s explosive entrance at No. 3.
Pooran wasted no time, hitting his first three deliveries for sixes, instantly putting pressure on the Australians. His batting partner, Johnson Charles, despite not being in peak form, contributed a solid 40 off 31 balls. Pooran, however, was the star of the show, hammering a breathtaking 75 off just 25 balls, which included five fours and eight towering sixes. His innings came to an end in the 10th over, courtesy of leg-spinner Adam Zampa.
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Following Pooran’s departure, skipper Rovman Powell took charge, continuing the assault on the Australian bowlers. Powell smashed a quickfire 52 off 25 balls. Sherfane Rutherford added to the carnage with a blistering 47 from just 18 balls, propelling the West Indies to an imposing total of 257/4 in their allotted 20 overs.
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In response, Australia put up a spirited fight. David Warner and Ashton Agar provided brief but entertaining knocks to get the chase underway. Although captain Mitchell Marsh was dismissed cheaply, Josh Inglis kept Australian hopes alive with a dynamic 55 off 30 balls.
Despite the efforts of Tim David, Matthew Wade, Nathan Ellis, and Adam Zampa, who all contributed valuable runs, Australia could only muster 222/7 by the end of their innings, falling short by 35 runs.
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West Indies’ bowler Gudakesh Motie, who had been in outstanding form during their recent series sweep against South Africa, delivered another impressive performance. He claimed 2/31 on a pitch that offered little assistance to the bowlers. This convincing victory, even against a weakened Australian side, will undoubtedly boost the confidence of the two-time T20 World Cup champions as they prepare for the upcoming tournament on home soil.
